Device for raising sunken vessels



(N0 Mbdel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 11. O. H. BROWN.

DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

N0. 1 5,054.' I Patented Aug. 26, 1890.

5175/8 I I s (No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. H. BROWN. DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS. No. 435,054,. PatentedAug. 26, 1890.

In \/E Pic E] r Qw arias H.E ruw1 Ei-l WA UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BROWN, or roar HURON, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,054, dated August26, 1890.

Application filed April 15, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and use* ful Improvements in Devicesfor Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices forraising sunken vessels, and relates to that class of such devicescommonly known as camels.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the pontons orships comprising the camel, whereby the draft-chains are connectedcentrally in the pontons; further, in'

the peculiar construction of the pontons whereby the filling andemptying of the Water-compartment is facilitated; further, in theconstruction of the tackle; further, in the construction of the meansfor connecting the two parts of the camel, and, further, in the peculiarconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all asmore fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a si'de elevation of one of the pontons.Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinalsection on line xzcFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar section on line y i],Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the two pontons, showing thempartially sunken and in use in raising a sunken vessel. Fig. 6 is asimilar section showing the vessel partially raised. Fig. 7 is avertical central cross-section through the engine-room and well. Fig. 8is an end elevation. Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-secti0n through one ofthe pockets.

A A are two like pontons or ships, each of the following construction:Bis the hull, forming the Water-chambers, the top 0 of which forms themain deck. Upon this hull is constructed the deck-house D. The hull isdivided into a suitable number of water-coinpartments by the partitionsE.

In the drawings I have shown a hull formed into three compartments E, Eand The compartments E and E are connected with the main well F by meansof the conduits F. These conduits are controlled by valves G,

Serial No; 348,062. (No model.)

which have the shafts G provided with suit able hand-wheels extendingthrough the upper deckd l. The compartment F. likewise connects with thewell F, and is controlled by a similar valve G, having a similar shaftG. The suction pipe I extends into this well and connects with asuitable pump 1", having a discharge-pipe 1 extending through the sideof the deck-house. This pump is driven by any suitable engine, which islocated in a pump-house, which I preferably locate beneath the upperdeck and within the deckhouse, as shown.

.I are suitable vents for the lower main chambers, and J are vents forthe deck-house.

L are inlet-valves controlling openings in the lower side of the hull tobe used in filling the hull with water.

On the inner side of a ponton thus constructed I form a series ofpockets or wells M through the hull, and a series of correspondingpockets M through the deck-house, the pockets h being Wider than thepockets M, a shoulder N being formed at the junction of the two pocketswhich forms abearing for the block N, suitably apertured to allow thechain Q to pass through, a pin or shackle 0 be ing used on the top ofthis block to hold the chain in its adjusted position.

'P is a stanchion secured above the well M, upon which is secured thesheave P, and at the base of which is secured the sheave P.

has a suitable hook at its end adapted to be engaged in the chain, andat its other end connects to the winding-drum Q in the engineraised orlowered by the engine.

To offset the loss in buoyancy upon the inside of the 'pontons caused byforming the wells, I place the water-ballast tank R upon the oppositeside of the ponton, which I intend to keep filled with water at alltimes, so that in the upper position of the ponton, as shown in Fig. 6,it may remain as nearly level as possible.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged, they are intended tooperate as follows: The pontons being towed over the sunken vessel, thevalves L being open, the hull B is gradually filled with water and theOver these sheaves is looped the rope Q,which.

house, so arranged that the chain may be.

- from the deck-house.

pontons sunk. If the lift is great, I can sink my h'ull still farther byopening the valves S in the deck-house to partially fill it. Theengine-house being Water-tight will be entirely secure, althoughpartially under water. The chains may be now adjusted beneath the vesseland passed upward through the wells M tirely pumped from the hull andthe full effeet-of the buoyancy of the pontons exerted *irilifting'it asfar as possible, the pontons are towed intoshallow water until thevessel *rests' upon the ground. The pontons are "separated a sufficientdistance to allow the vessel to come between their inner edges, and areheld in their separated position by means of the girders S, secured insuitable bearings S formed upon the main deck. The chains are carried tothe upper deck and pass through suitable blocks S thereon, and thepontons -can be filled, pumped out, and the vessel lift-ed, when it willbe in ordinary cases clear from the-water, as shown in Fig. 6, and may*thenbe towed to any desired point.

\ necting with the outer end. 4

In order that I may pass from one ponton "to the other when they areseparated, 1 arrange-the gangways T, which I slidingly secure upon theends of the ponton, supporting its outer edge by means of the chain orrope T passing over the stanchion T and con- T are suitable derricksconnected to the engine, preferably to the drum Q, sothat small articlesmay "be liftedou-t of the water, or forany desired purpose.

What I claim as my invention is 1; In acamel, the combination of thehull,

I asei'ies of vertical wells in one side thereof, adeck-house havingcorresponding wells of larger diameter, chains in said wells, andadjn'stable blocks on the chains in the upper wells of adiameter greaterthan the lower well, substantially as described.

The valves S be- 2. In a camel, the hull formed of two independentsections, each having" water tight compartments, a conduit connectingthe lower part of the end compartments, and a connection between theconduit and the central compartment, a suction-well leading from the conduit, suitable suction means, ingress and egress valves for thecompartments, a deckhouse, pockets in the inner portion of the hull, andwells between the pockets, substantially as described.

3. In a camel, the combination of the hull divided centrally, having aseries of adjacent pockets in its inner portion, a counterbalance watercompartment in the on ter portion of the parts, and interveningwatertight compartments, and a deck house on each section formed withwater-tight co1npartmen-ts,substantially as described.

4. In a camel, the combination of the hull, a series of Vertical wellsin one side" thereof, a deck-house having corresponding wells,stanchions above said well, pulleys upon said stanchions, awinding-drum,'and a rope on said drum adapted to connect to the chain inany well, substantially as described.

5. In a camel, the combination of the hull, a series of vertical wellsin one side thereof, a deck-house having corresponding wells, a bearingat the top of each well. of both series, the blocks'N, chains 0, passingthrough the wells'on which the blocks are placed, rope Q, connected tothe chains, pulleys P P", over which the rope passes, and winding-drum Qfor winding up the rope, substantially'as-dcscribed.

6. In a camel, the combination of the hull, a series of vertical wellsin the 'hullon one side, pockets in the inner part, and acounterbalancing water-compartment at the other side, and an interveningwater-tight compartment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses,this 22d day of January, 1890.

CHARLES n; BROWN.

Witnesses: I

(E0. 0. GREGG, M. B. ODoeHnRTY.

